Man Swinging Baseball Bat Threatens Woman With Knife: JPD

JOLIET, IL — Joliet police have released details surrounding Sunday's baseball bat attack in the 0 to 100 block of South Cagwin Avenue on the city's near west side. The incident led to the arrest of Christopher Rich, 53, who is a new Joliet resident.

Will County Jail records listed Rich as living in the Minooka area at the Shady Oaks mobile home park, but Joliet police identify him as a city resident living on Cagwin Avenue.

Rich is charged with two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of domestic battery and one aggravated assault. His bail remains $100,000, and he's unable to post the necessary 10 percent to regain his freedom.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English:

At 6:11 p.m. Sunday, officers were sent to South Cagwin Avenue, which is right along West Jefferson Street, for a disturbance where Rich had attacked two women.

Rich was intoxicated and started an argument, threatening to kill one of the women while he held a baseball bat.

Another woman inside the house, who is four months pregnant, tried to intervene, at which time Rich struck her in the back with the bat.

Rich then picked up a knife and threatened to harm the pregnant woman.

After putting his knife down, Rich then turned his attention to the woman he hit with his baseball bat and started fighting with her.

Joliet officers arrived on the scene and took Rich into custody without any problems.

A Joliet Fire Department ambulance responded to the scene, but the victims refused medical treatment.

On Monday, Joliet Patch reported that Rich has three previous domestic battery convictions out of nearby Grundy County.

Related Patch coverage:

Pregnant Woman Hit With Bat, 3-Time Minooka Abuser Arrested: JPD